Kolkata, Dec 19 (PTI) After a painting session in the
open, women inmates of a correctional home near here would
take part in a cake cutting ceremony in this festive season in
an effort to bring them back to mainstream society.

Dumdum Central Correctional Home authorities, in
collaboration with an NGO, have taken these steps to make
these inmates feel wanted and be a part of mainstream society.

"We always extend support to such initiatives. Such
steps will enable the inmates to return to mainstream society
and not feel ostracised," DG & IG of Correctional Services
Arun Kumar Gupta said.

Chaitali Das, Managing Trustee of Rakshak Foundation,
the NGO involved in the project to empower women inmates, said
the inmates would participate in a cake cutting ceremony in
the upcoming Christmas-New Year season.

"The cake cutting ceremony will be held in the
presence of jail officials. The date will be finalised soon,"
she said.

The NGO had arranged another programme on Sunday last
when four inmates painted sitting on a stage erected beside a
key road in the central part of the city during the Tata Steel
Kolkata 25 Marathon.

The inmates, guarded by police women, painted bright
vibrant images of tree, birds soaring up in sky, as well as
faces of home-bound women in black and white.

Eminent painter Wasim Kapoor, who supervised the live
painting session, said "The inmates showed skill in painting.

This should be nurtured by the correctional home authorities
in an organised manner in future."

The project had especially been structured to help
women inmates who are also mothers of little children, Das
said.